Folding shelter-



July 16, 1963 L. H. DAVIS ETAL 3,097,400

FOLDING SHELTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 14, 1960 JOHN E. ELLSWORTH LINLY H. DAVIS INVENTORS ATTORNEY July 16, 1963 H. DAVIS ETAL 3,

I FOLDING SHELTER Filed Oct. 14, 1960 3 Sheets-$heet 2 FIG. 7

JOHN E. ELLSWORTH LINLY H. DAVIS INVENTORLS' FIG. 5

July 16, 1963 L. H. DAVIS ETAL 3,097,400

FOLDING SHELTER Filed Oct. 14, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 JOHN E. ELLSWORTH LINLY H. DAVIS INVENTORS ATTORNEY United States Patent "ice 3,097,400 FOLDING SHELTER Linly H. Davis, 1519 W. Greenfield, and John E. Ellsworth, 1520 W. Greenfield, both of Wichita, Kans. Filed Oct. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 62,604 7 Claims. (Cl. 20-2) This invention relates to a shelter and more particularly to a shelter which is collapsible and foldable. Even more particularly, it relates to a collapsible and foldable shelter wherein the major component elements are in articulated relation with one another as by hinged connections, and the component elements so connected together are of a substantially uniform size whereby the entire structure can be arranged for storage or transportation when not used as a shelter.

Heretofore, a number of collapsible shelters have been proposed such as tents which are, as is well known, constructed of cloth and the more rigid types wherein the different component parts are constructed of materials such as plywood, sheet metal, and even paper. To the best of our knowledge, however, none have been entirely satisfactory. As for example, cloth, if not treated to render the same moisture proof, is unsatisfactory for out door use. Furthermore, tents, if not carefully handled will soon deteriorate. Shelters constructed of plywood or of metal are heavy and generally are rather bulky.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the present invention to provide a collapsible shelter whereby the disadvantages of the prior art shelters are obviated.

It is another object of this invention to provide a foldable shelter which embodies a plurality of wall sections hingedly connected so as to be self-supporting when unfolded and positioned to form the shelter. It is a further object to provide a shelter in which the wall sections are foldable into a compact flat package of substantially uniform rectilinear dimensions whereby the package may be easily stored, shipped or transported. An additional object is to provide a shelter which readily lends itself to the use of self-sustaining wall sections made of formretaining sheets or made of flexible sheeting mounted on rigid frames.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawings in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout, setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of but a few of the various Ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the shelter folded and installed on a car top;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shelter, in accordance with the present invention, shown assembled;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the folded shelter taken in the vertical plane indicated by the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, shown on supports;

FIG. 4 is a perspective end view showing the shelter partially erected, certain of the panels being shown in folded position;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view showing one of the hold down anchors;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a preferred mechanism for locking the ends of adjacent panels together, and is taken in the location indicated by the line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

3,097,400 Patented July 16, 1963 FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a hinged corner joint taken along the line 77 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of the shelter with the various panels in their folded positions, and is taken along the line 8 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing a method of attaching upright supports to the corners of the box section;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of an offset hinge used to connect the edge of one top panel to the box, the view being taken along the line 1010 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of an offset hinge used to connect the edge of the opposite top panel to the box, and is taken along the line 11--11 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of the hinged joint between the edges of the top panels and the adjacent. side panels, and is taken along the line 1212 of FIG. 4; FIG. 13 is a detailed transverse sectional view taken along the line 13-13 of FIG. 4, and illustrates a leak proof manner of attaching an edge of a flexible floor panel along the lower edge of an upright side panel; and

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view through one end of the box section taken along the line 14-14 of FIG. 4, and illustrates the manner and location in which the upper edge of one end panel is hinged to the box.

Briefly stated, the foregoing objects and advantages are attained by constructing the collapsible shelter of panels which are hinged together. The panels are preferably individually framed and cross braced with light gauge aluminum angle section strips. All panel frames are covered with a tough fabric, such as that used in prior years to cover airplane wings. It is stretched over the panel frame and then treated with airplane wing dope to place it under further tension.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and more specifically to FIG. 2, there is shown a fully assembled shelter embodying the present invention. The shelter includes a box section 10, the sides of which are of sufficient height to hold all the panels when the shelter is in the folded condition. The box section plus the two roof panels 12, which are hingedly attached to the opposing sides of the box section, make up the roof section of the shelter. The side walls 11 and 16 are hingedly attached to the edges of roof panels 12 as at 41 and 37 respectively, as clearly illustrated in FIG. 12. The lengths of the roof panels, side panels, and the box section are substantially equal. The box section is supported at the four corners thereof during erection by four removable uprights 25, 26, 27 and 28, the upper ends of which are secured to the respective corners of the box section 10 by bolts 52 and wing nuts 53.

It is believed that the shelter and method of erecting the same can both be described best by describing how the shelter is erected. The folder shelter, as illustrated in FIG. 1, is first supported upon the four uprights 25, 26, 27 and 28 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 8. These supports may be constructed of wood or light metal. Whatever the material of construction, they should be provided with pointed ends to facilitate their insertion into the ground. After the box 10 is firmly supported on the uprights, left top panel 12 and connected side panel 11 are swung downward as indicated by the broken lines of FIG. 3, and moved to the positions shown in FIG. 4. Top panel 12 is attached to the box section 10 by means of the hinge 40. Side panel 11 is attached along the edge of top panel 12 by means of the hinge 41. After the left top panel and side panel 11 are lowered and erected, the right top panel 12 and connected side panel 16 are erected in a similar manner. End panels 19 and 20 are then lowered. End panel 19 is provided with a door 21.

Next, front panels 13 and 17 are swung outward to the positions shown in FIG. 2, and their adjacent edges are secured to the opposite edges of end panel 19 by means of suitable vertically spaced latches, the details of one such latch being illustrated in FIG. 6. Similarly rear panels 22 and 23 are swung outward and their edges secured to the opposite edges of rear end panel 20 by like latches, as indicated at 65 and 66 in FIG. 4. The front and rear panels 13, 17, 22 and 23 are hinged to the adjacent edges of the respective upright side panels 11 and 16, preferably by piano type hinges such as indicated at 41, 42, 45, etc., although other types may be used.

The latch of FIG. 6 includes a rod 58 through the end of which extends a pin 60. The rod 58 is adapted to latch with a slotted sleeve 57, and the spring 59 provides the necessary tension to hold the two pieces securely together when in a locked position. Handle 35 provides the :means whereby the two pieces may be locked or unlocked as required. Obviously other means could be used for attachment such as snaps, buttons, laces, ties, zippers or the like if desired.

Next the pennant shaped front end panels 31 and 32 are swung into the positions shown in FIG. 2, and latched along their lower edges to the upper edges of front panels 13 and 17, respectively. The pennant shaped rear panels 63 and 64 (FIG. 4) are similarly positioned and latched. All four of these pennant shaped panels are hingedly con nected to the respective end panels 19 and 20, along their corresponding edges indicated by the numeral 39. These panels may be covered with plastic or metal screening instead of doped fabric, if desired. Also the hinged connection to adjacent panels may be omitted and the pennant shaped panels secured in position by means of latches such as shown in FIG. 6. In any case these smaller panels may serve, as needed, for ventilation openings.

After the shelter has been erected as described it is only necessary to drive anchors 34 into the ground at intervals along the lower edges of the various panels so that they engage the various lower horizontal frame members, as clearly shown in FIG. 5.

If it is desired to use a canvas floor for the shelter, the canvas is placed in position before the various panels are unfolded from the box section 10. FIG. 13 illustrates the manner in which the edges of the canvas floor 67 are upturned and secured to the adjacent upright panels of the shelter. For this purpose each panel carries a downwardly opening metal strip 68, into which the edges of the floor canvas 67 are inserted. This overhanging strip prevents water from leaking into the shelter along the top surface of the canvas floor.

As can be seen in FIG. 8 the hinge axes 54 and 55 of end panels 19 and 20 are offset a suflicient vertical distance from the lower edges of the box to permit these two panels to lie substantially parallel to each other and to occupy the upper portion of the box when in folded position. Similarly, as seen in FIGS. 3, 10 and 11, the hinge axes 40 and 36 for the roof panel assemblies 11, 12, 13 and 12, 16, 17 are offset different vertical distances to allow these assemblies to lie parallel in the box section. The design is such that when the shelter is erected all horizontal hinges 36, 40, 54 and 55 are protected from water leakage by the side walls of the box. Similarly the horizontal hinges 37 and 41 are protected by overhanging portions of the two roof panels 12 to which the side panels 11 and 16 are respectively hinged.

To hold the various panels and panel assemblies in their folded positions within the box section suitable latches or catches are provided. Numeral 46, FIG. 8, identifies a preferred spring urged type of latch, pivoted on the inner wall surface of the box, and urged into positive holding contact with the free end of end panel 20. A similar latch 47 is pivoted on a frame member of panel 20 and engages the free end of end panel 19. A pivoted latch 69 secured to the wall of the box section serves to hold the roof panel assemblies in position, and may be rotated 90 to permit unfolding of the assemblies.

From the above description it will be seen that this invention provides a collapsible or foldable weatherproof shelter which occupies a relatively small space when collapsed, and which can easily be carried on the top of a car. When unfolded and erected it provides a shelter having a floor space approximately 8 feet by 17 feet, and a height at the center roof section of approximately 8 feet. The shelter can be taken across country much more easily than can a trailer of comparable floor space. The shelter requires no extra insurance on the car, eliminates the need for an additional vehicle license, and does not have to accompany the car on short sightseeing trips, as does a trailer.

Having described the invention with suflicient clarity to enable those familiar with this art to construct and use it, we claim.

1. A foldable shelter comprising: A central box section having a top, side and end walls, and an open bottom; two central end panels each having an end hingedly secured to the inside surface of a respective end wall of said box section and movable between stowed positions within said box and vertical parallel positions normal to the top of said box; two side assemblies, each including a roof panel, a sidewall panel, and front and rear panels, each roof panel being hingedly connected along one side edge to the inside surface of a respective side wall of said box, each side wall panel being hingedly connected along one side edge to the opposite side edge of its respective associated roof panel, and each front and rear panel being hingedly connected along one edge to the respective opposite ends of their respective associated side Wall panels, releasable means for securing those edges of the front and rear panels which are opposite their hinged edges to the respective adjacent edges of the two central end panels when the front and rear panels and central end panels are in their respective erected and unfolded positions, the front and rear panels being movable from positions normal to their respective associated side wall panels in planes common to the respective central end panels to positions flat against the inside surface of their respective side wall panels, each side wall panel with its two associated front and rear panels folded flat against the inside surface thereof being movable to a position substantially parallel to the inner surface of its respective associated roof panel, and each side assembly including the roof panel, the side wall panel and the front and rear panels being movable to a stowed position within said box section, all panels when stowed lying within the box section above the open bottom thereof and being disposed in superposed substantially parallel positions therein.

2. The shelter described in claim 1, and means for supporting said box section above the ground in a substantially horizontal position, independent of all said associated panels.

3. The shelter described in claim 2, and means for closing any existing space between the upper edges of the respective front and rear panels and the adjacent edges of the respective roof panels when all panels are in their respective erected and unfolded positions.

4. A foldable shelter comprising: a shallow rectangular box section having a top, side walls, end walls and an open bottom; a pair of rectangular roof panels of a size and shape to be received flat within said box section, each roof panel having one side edge hingedly attached along a respective side wall of the box section; a pair of rectangular side panels of substantially the same size and shape as the roof panels, each side panel having one side edge hingedly connected along the respective other side edge of the respective roof panels; a first front and a first rear panel, each having a side edge hingedly secured to the respective opposite ends of one side panel and adapted to fold inward flat against said side panel; a second front and a second rear panel, each having a side edge likewise hingedly connected to the respective opposite ends of the other side panel and adapted to fold inward flat against the side panel to which they are hingedly secured; and two central end panels, each having one end hingedly con nected to a respective end wall of said box section, one central end panel and the two front panels having releasable means for securing them together at the adjacent edges when the panels are in unfolded and erected positions and together forming the vertical front wall of the shelter, the other central end panel and the two rear panels having releasable means for securing them together at the adjacent edges when the panels are in unfolded and erected positions and together forming the vertical rear wall of the shelter, the top of the box section and the two roof panels forming a composite roof for the shelter when the roof panels are in unfolded and erected positions, and the two side panels when in unfolded and erected positions forming the upright side walls of the shelter, all said panels being foldable on their respective hinge connections to occupy superposed substantially parallel stowed positions within said box section above the open bottom thereof.

5. The shelter described in claim 4, and releasable means for holding said panels in their stowed positions within said box section.

6. A foldable shelter comprising: an elongated box section having an open bottom; a pair of roof panels each having an inner side edge connected to a respective opposite side of the box section, the two roof panels and the box section together forming a composite roof for the shelter, the two roof panels capable of being folded to superposed positions within the box section; means for supporting said box section in a substantially horizontal position above the ground; a pair of side panels each having a top edge hingedly connected to an outer edge of a respective one of said roof panels, and each being foldable to a position alongside and substantially parallel to its respective roof panel; a pair of front and a pair of rear panels, each front panel having an upright edge hingedly secured in corresponding positions to an upright edge of a respective one of said side panels, and each rear panel having an upright edge hingedly secured to the opposite upright edge of the respective side panels, whereby one front and one rear panel may be folded flat against each side panel, the side panels and their respective associated front and rear panels may be folded flat against their respective associated roof panels, and the roof panels and their respective associated folded side and front and rear panels may all be folded to superposed positions within said box section above the open bottom thereof; a front central end wall panel and a rear central end wall panel, each having one end connected to a respective end of said box section, and capable of being folded into said box in superposed positions with relation to each other and with relation to the other panels, when in their folded positions, said front central end wall panel being aligned at its edges with the adjacent edges of the pair of front panels so as to form a front wall when the panels are erected, said rear central end wall panel being aligned at its edges with the adjacent edges of the pair of rear panels so as to form a rear wall when the panels are erected, and releasable means for securing together the respective edges of the central wall panels and the adjacent edges of their respective pairs of front and rear panels aforesaid to hold the front and rear walls intact.

7. A foldable shelter comprising: a central box section having top, side, and end walls, and an open bottom; means for supporting said central box section in a substantially horizontal position above the ground; two central end panels each having an end hingedly secured to the inside surface of a respective end wall of said central box section and movable between stowed positions within said box and vertical parallel positions normal to the top of said box; two opposed side means each one being in a transverse disposition with respect to the central end panels and each secured to a different side of said shelter from the other so as to close off the shelter at that side; at least one of said side means comprising an assembly including a roof panel, a side wall panel, and front and rear panels, said roof panel being hingedly connected along one side edge to the inside surface of a side wall of said box, said side wall panel being hingedly connected along one side edge to the opposite side edge of said roof panel, and each of said front and rear panels being hingedly connected along one edge to the respective opposite ends of said side wall panel; and releasable means for securing those edges of the front and rear panels which are opposite their hinged edges to the respective adjacent edges of the central end panels when the front and rear panels and central end panels are in their respective erected and unfolded positions; the front and rear panels being movable from positions normal to the side wall panel in planes common to the respective central end panels to positions flat against the inside surface of the side wall panel, said side wall panel with its associated front and rear panels folded fiat against the inside surface thereof being movable to a position substantially parallel to the inner surface of said box section when stowed therewithin, said front and rear panels and side wall panel occupying superposed substantially parallel positions within the box section above the open bottom thereof when stowed as aforesaid.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 456,307 Hodsdon lfuly 21, 1891 1,386,943 Moore Aug. 9, 1921 2,155,876 Stout Apr. 25, 1939 2,701,038 Mooney Feb. 1, 1955 2,883,713 Zug Apr. 28, 1959 2,890,907 Briskie June 16, 1959 

1. A FOLDABLE SHELTER COMPRISING: A CENTRAL BOX SECTION HAVING A TOP, SIDE AND END WALLS, AND AN OPENING BOTTOM; TWO CENTRAL END PANELS EACH HAVING AN END HINGEDLY SECURED TO THE INSIDE SURFACE OF A RESPECTIVE END WALL OF SAID BOX SECTION AND MOVABLE BETWEEN STOWED POSITIONS WITHIN SAID BOX AND VERTICAL PARALLEL POSITIONS NORMAL TO THE TOP OF SAID BOX; TWO SIDE ASSEMBLIES, EACH INCLUDING A ROOF PANEL, A SIDEWALL PANEL, AND FRONT AND REAR PANELS, EACH OF PANEL BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED ALONG ONE SIDE EDGE TO THE INSIDE SURFACE OF A RESPECTIVE SIDE WALL OF SAID BOX, EACH SIDE WALL PANEL BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED ALONG ONE SIDE EDGE TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE EDGE OF ITS RESPECTIVE ASSOCIATED ROOF PANEL, AND EACH FRONT AND REAR PANEL BEING HINGEDLY CONNECTED ALONG ONE EDGE TO THE RESPECTIVE OPPOSITE ENDS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE ASSOCIATED SIDE WALL PANELS, RELEASABLE MEANS FOR SECURING THOSE EDGES OF THE FRONT AND REAR PANELS WHICH ARE OPPOSITE THEIR HINGED EDGES TO THE RESPECTIVE ADJACENT EDGES OF THE TWO CENTRAL END PANELS WHEN THE FRONT AND REAR PANELS AND CENTRAL END PANELS ARE IN THEIR RESPECTIVE ERECTED AND UNFOLDED POSITIONS, THE FRONT AND REAR PANELS BEING MOVABLE FROM POSITIONS NORMAL TO THEIR RESPECTIVE ASSICIATED SIDE WALL PANELS IN PLANES COMMON TO THE RESPECTIVE CENTRAL END PANELS TO POSITIONS FLAT AGAINST THE INSIDE SURFACE OF THE RESPECTIVE SIDE WALL PANELS, EACH SIDE WALL PANEL WITH ITS TWO ASSOCIATED FRONT AND REAR PANELS FOLDED FLAT AGAINST THE INSIDE SURFACE THEREOF BEING MOVABLE TO A POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE INNER SURFACE OF ITS RESPECTIVE ASSOCIATED ROOF PANEL, AND EACH SIDE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE ROOF PANEL, THE SIDE WALL PANEL AND THE FRONT AND REAR PANELS BEING MOVABLE TO A STOWED POSITION WITHIN SAID BOX SECTION, ALL PANELS WHEN STOWED LYING WITHIN THE BOX SECTION ABOVE THE OPEN BOTTOM THEREOF THE BEING DISPOSED IN SUPERPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL POSITIONS THEREIN. 